Novel holster and harness

ABSTRACT

A concealable holster and harness may be worn under a shirt comfortably concealing a weapon in a holster which is easily accessible and avoids normal discomforts of continual wearing of a harness, holster and a weapon.

O Unlted States Patent 1191 1111 3,797,715 Scialdone Mar. 19, 1974 [5NOVEL HOLSTER AND HARNESS 2.504.369 4/1950 Adair 224/2 B 7 [76]Inventor: Sebastian R. Scialdone, l4 Winston Yonkers, 10701 2,819.8301/1958 Murray...

2.109.232 2/1938 Hoyt [22] 1972 3.252.638 v 5/1966 ROlSIOn et al 224/2[21] Appl. No.: 228,570

Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerKenneth Noland(SI, 224/2 Attorney, Agent, or Arthur Auslander [58] Field of Search224/2 B, 5 BC, 5212122111), ABSTRACT A concealable holster and harnessmay be worn under 5 References Cited a shirt comfortably concealing aweapon in a holster UNITED STATES PATENTS wh h is sai s/A ess le 91 vqls .ner al s ml 60] 963 10/1926 Anh 224/2 B forts of continual wearingof a harness, holster and 21 2:381:5 8/1945 Leininger 224/1 R weapon 72.676.737 4/l954 Zirbel 224/5 P 14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures NOVELHOLSTER AND HARNESS The present invention relates to a novel holster andharness, particularly effective for concealment of a weapon with readyaccessibility of the weapon.

In the past holsters and harnesses have been provided for readyaccessibility of a weapon. The holster and harness has no purposewithout a weapon and a weapon may not be of any use if it is not readilyaccessible.

In many instances, such as in civilian clothed security personnel orcivilian carrying of weapons, there is a further important provisionwhich must be made, that being concealment.

Holsters and harnesses of the past, concealed or visible, have oftenbeen bulky, uncomfortable to wear, expensive to produce and may bedifficult to conceal.

According to the present invention, a holster and harness is providedwhich may readily conceal a weapon, one which permits readyaccessibility and comfort of wearing with a weapon over a prolong periodof time.

Although such novel feature or features believed to be characteristic ofthe invention are pointed out in the claims, the invention and manner inwhich it may be carried out may be further understood by reference tothe description following and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation showing the holster and harness of thepresent invention being worn with a weapon.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail of a holster mounted on a harness.

FIG. 4 is a detail isometric of the holster and harness of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a detail of the front of a holster of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a detail of the back of the holster of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a detail of the girth web closure of the present'invention.

FIG. 8 is a detail of the shoulder strap of the present invention.

Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like referencenumbers denote like parts in the various figures.

In FIG. 1 the holster and harness 10 is shown as worn under a shirt 11(in phantom). The holster 12 is supported forward ofthe side and arm,below the breast and below the breast pocket 13 (in phantom) of theshirt 11.

The holster 12 is mounted on the circumferential web 14 which normallyengirdles the torso 15. The web 14 is preferably closed about the torso15 by engaging its end 16 through a link 17 and folding the end 16 overitself to a proper size for the torso 15, then closing the end 16against itself.

The end 16 has along its length a male portion 18 and female portion 19of the fastening material known by the trade mark Velcro. The Velcro hasa male fastening portion 18 comprising plastic barbs and a femaleportion comprising a matted plastic. The two portions, when pressedtogether, firmly, hold each other.

As in the present invention, the size of the web 14 may be adjusted tocomfort and the web closed about the link 17 with the male portion 18and female portion 19 grasping firmly.

The shoulder web 20 is attached to the front of the circumferential web14 as shown in FIG. 1, where it may be held by stitching 21 and a rivet22, or both. The back of the shoulder web 20, as shown in FIG. 2 may belikewise held by stitching 23 and/or a rivet 24.

It is preferable to have the back portion of the shoul der web 20 joinedintermediate of an elastic portion 25 which may be jointed by astitching 26, 27, spacing apart edges 28, 29 of the circumferential web14.

As shown in FIG. 8, the shoulder web 20 may optionally be adjusted overa link 30 with a web end 31, having along its length a male portion 18and a female portion 19 of Velcro as heretofore described.

In FIG. 3, the holster 12 is shown attached to the circumferentialwebbing 14. The holster 12 is preferably angled slightly rearward andheld to the web 14 by v stitching 32 and rivets 33. The holster 12 mayhave an opening 34 for the barrel of a gun to protrude through. A thong35 preferably is attached to a grommet 36 and dangles so that it may beengaged under the belt 37 of the wearer to keep the holster 12 from freemovement.

As shown in FIG. 5, the inside surface 38 of the ho]- ster 12 is smoothand slick so that there is no impediment nor friction between the weaponand the inside surface 38.

The outside surface 39, facing away from the wearers body, is preferablyan unfinished simple leather soft suede which tends to be supple andalso restrains unnecessary movement by friction between the outsidesurface 39 and shirt 11.

As shown in FIG. 6, the inside surface 40, facing toward the wearersbody, is covered by a soft spongy rubber-like material 41, preferablyhaving very small pores.

In use, the holster and harness 10 of the present invention is put on bypassing the arm 42 through the loop formed by the shoulder web 20 andthe circumferential web 14. The web 14 is tightened to be firm againstthe torso 15 by pulling the web end 16 through the link 17, then closingthe web 14 by joining the male and female portions 18, 19 of the Velcrofastener.

The circumferential web 14 is preferably a strong cloth tape, althoughit could be a leather strap. The advantage of the tape is its lightweight and natural give. By the same token, the circumferential web 14closure could be a buckle, but such closure would tend to be bulky andexpensive. Especially for concealment, minimum bulk is preferable.

The attachment of the shoulder web 20 to the elastic portion 25 providesa comfortable adjustment of the holster and harness 10 of the presentinvention so that there is no discomfort in normal breathing, nor unduemovement of the holster and harness 10 of the present invention. Theelastic 25 has give circumferentially and over the shoulder.

As shown in FIG. 3, the holster 12 is at an angle along thecircumferential web 14. The angle coincides with the natural angle thata band would approach a weapon in the holster 12 as it passes throughthe shirt 11 to the weapon.

It is preferable that the shirt 11 has a button or two open, providingan opening 43 for ready entry of the hand toward the weapon. The openingis usually concealed by an overlying tie.

""Thes mf r'iibiir backing 41 of the holster 12 and the thin leatherfrom which the holster 12 is preferably made tends to cause the holster12 with a weapon to conform closely to the shape of the torso 15. Thesponge 41 also serves as a soft resilient intermediate between the torsol5 and the holster and harness to avoid discomfort or chafing.

As a practical matter, as shown in FIG. 8,.the holster and harness 10may have an adjustable shoulder web 20. Thus for use, the holster andharness 10 does not have to be custom fitted for each user.

An additional advantage of having the shoulder web 20 adjustable is thatthe holster and harness 10 can also be removed without removal of theshirt 1] by releasing the shoulder web 20 and circumferential web 14,then drawing the holster and harness 10 out from the front of the shirt11.

It should be noted that the concealment of the present invention iseffected by maintaining the harness and holster 10 with a'weapon beneaththe breast and forward of the armpit.

Thus, there is no discomfort caused by the arm 42 having to be spacedaway from the torso because of the holster and harness 10 with the bulkof its weapon and barrel. The position of the arm 42 is also a naturalone when the holster and harness 10 of the present invention is worn.

While slings, straps and harnesses have been used in the past, thesimplicity of the present invention allows a minimum of webbing toprovide a maximum of support with a maximum of concealment and ease ofaccess. Further. the adjustments which in harnesses of the past mighthave to be made with loops or buckles, are all naturally built into thewebbing and closures. It should be noted that the holster and harness 10of the present invention would not be very effective were the barrel ofthe weapon to rest below the belt line since the barrel would interferewith free movement of the body and the user when sealed and might show abulge.

Mounting the holster 12 under the breast and on the circumferential web14 raises the bottom of the holster l2 so that a large variety ofweapons may be held with various size barrels and yet not be too largeto interfere with effective use of the holster and harness 10 of thepresent invention. The grasping of the thong 35 under the belt restrainsundue movement of the holster and harness 10 of the present invention.

The circumferential web 14 and shoulder web might well be made of strongcloth tape.

The terms and .expressions which are employed are used as terms ofdescription; it is recognized, though, that various modifications arepossible.

Having thus described certain forms of the invention in some detail,what is claimed is:

l. A coneealable harness of light weight and with give and holstercombination comprising a torso circumferential substantially cloth web.closure means for said torso circumferential substantially cloth web. asingle substantially cloth shoulder web passing over the shoulder of thesame side as the holster is carried, said shoulder web jointed to saidtorso circumferential web on the front portion of said torsocircumferential web and at the back portion of the torso circumferentialweb, the points of attachment of the shoulder web to the torso web beingcloser to the front and back center of the body than to the holster,said shoulder web supporting said torso web beneath the wearers breastcloser to the wearers breast than th wearer's belt, a supple holster,the upper portion of said holster affixed to said torso circumferentialweb so that the holster is located on the side and slightly forward ofthe wearers armpit on the torso circumferential web and above thewaistline.

2. The invention of claim I wherein said holster is at an angle toward ahand reaching for a weapon in said holster.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said portion of said holsterfacing toward the wearers body is covered by a soft spongy foam.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said foam is rubber.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the inside portion of said holsteris slick.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the outside portion of said holsteris unfinished soft leather.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said holster includes a thongextending from its bottom portion.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said torso circumferential webincludes a closure.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said closure includes a linkage toan end including male and female matachable surfaces adapted to closesaid web.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said torso circumferential webincludes an elastic portion.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein one end of said shoulder isaffixed to said elastic portion.

12. The invention of claim 1 wherein said shoulder web includes alinkage to said torso circumferential web including male and femalematchable surfaces adapted to close said web attached to said torsocircumferential web.

13. The invention of claim 1 wherein said torso circumferential web ismade of cloth tape.

14. The invention of claim 1 wherein said shoulder web is made of clothtape.

1. A concealable harness of light weight and with give and holster combination comprising a torso circumferential substantially cloth web, closure means for said torso circumferential substantially cloth web, a single substantially cloth shoulder web passing over the shoulder of the same side as the holster is carried, said shoulder web jointed to said torso circumferential web on the front portion of said torso circumferential web and at the back portion of the torso circumferential web, the points of attachment of the shoulder web to the torso web being closer to the front and back center of the body than to the holster, said shoulder web supporting said torso web beneath the wearer''s breast closer to the wearer''s breast than th wearer''s belt, a supple holster, the upper portion of said holster affixed to said torso circumferential web so that the holster is located on the side and slightly forward of the wearer''s armpit on the torso circumferential web and above the waistline.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said holster is at an angle toward a hand reaching for a weapon in said holster.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said portion of said holster facing toward the wearer''s body is covered by a soft spongy foam.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said foam is rubber.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the inside portion of said holster is slick.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the outside portion of said holster is unfinished soft leather.
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said holster includes a thong extending from its bottom portion.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said torso circumferential web includes a closure.
 9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said closure includes a linkage to an end including male and female matachable surfaces adapted to close said web.
 10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said torso circumferential web includes an elastic portion.
 11. The invention of claim 10 wherein one end of said shoulder is affixed to said elastic portion.
 12. The invention of claim 1 wherein said shoulder web includes a linkage to said torso circumferential web including male and Female matchable surfaces adapted to close said web attached to said torso circumferential web.
 13. The invention of claim 1 wherein said torso circumferential web is made of cloth tape.
 14. The invention of claim 1 wherein said shoulder web is made of cloth tape. 